The Boy Scout program is designed to develop a boy's character, citizenship, and personal fitness using the following methods: a structured advancement program, high ideals, the patrol method, outdoor activities, adult association, personal growth, leadership development, and uniforming. This program and development structure is referred to as the Aims and Methods of Scouting.

BSA Mission Statement

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The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

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Ideals

Scout Oath

The Scout Oath or Promise is a pledge to help our community, our world, and ourselves.

The Scout Oath (or Promise) reads as follows:

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On my honor I will do my bestTo do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

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Scout Law

The Scout Law consists of twelve points intended to guide the behavior and decisions of scouts and scouters. The Scout Law is:

Structured advancement and recognition

Ranks

The Boy Scout advancement program is divided into three main areas. The first and primary advancement area is a series of ranks that the Scout progresses through known as the Eagle Scout trail. The rank system occurs in two distinctly different phases.

After earning the Scout Badge (which is simply the way boys join Boy Scouts, not a rank), boys work on the Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks. During this phase, all three ranks may be worked on at the same time. These ranks focus on Scouting skills - the outdoors, physical fitness, citizenship, patrol/troop participation, and personal development. After completing these ranks, a Scout should be adept at participating in all of the activities in the Boy Scout program, literally a First Class Scout.

During the second phase, Scouts work on the Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout ranks. These ranks are worked on one at a time and must be earned in order. Here the focus of advancement switches from Scouting skills to personal development and community service. Merit badges are an integral part of this part or rank advancement.

After earning the Eagle Scout award, a Scout still has the opportunity for advancement recognition by earning Eagle Palms.

Merit Badges

Merit badges are the second main area of the Boy Scout advancement program. Unlike ranks, there is a degree of choice in the merit badge program. A sub-group of merit badges are known as Eagle required merit badges. To earn Eagle Scout, most of these badges must be earned although some are "either/or" badges. The remainder of the badges help with earning ranks as well as Eagle Palms after the Eagle Scout award has been earned.

Boy Scouts may work on merit badges from they time they join a Scout troop until they turn 18 years old. There is no time limit for completion of merit badges other than age 18.

Awards

Awards are the third area of the advancement. Unlike the first two areas or advancement, awards are completely optional and carry no special privileges with them. However, they are still an important part of the program providing opportunities not available in the other areas.